Knock-down furniture



July 20, 1965 P. E FREEMAN KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1962 mmd/ OM M July 20, 1965 P. E. FREEMAN KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1962 INVENTOR P4 04 E. FREEMAN //w' ATTORNEY P. E. FREEMAN KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE July 20, 1965 Filed Dec. 6, 1962 5- Sheets-Sheet 3 I PAUL E FREEMAN BY 5 ATTORNE July 20, 1965 P. E. FREEMAN KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 6, 1962 INVENTOR.

PAUL E. FREEMAN BY v ATTORNEY July 20, 1965 P. E. FREEMAN KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6, 1962 INVENTOR. PAUL E. FREEMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,195,968 KNOCK-DOWN FURNKTURE Paul E. Freeman, Tallahassee, Fla, assignor to Lok Trim Corporation, Tallahassee, Fla, a corporation of Florida Filed Dec. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 242,762 Claims. (Cl. 312255) This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier application Serial No. 178,289 filed March 8, 1962. This invention relates to knock-down furniture and is directed primarily to furniture which is capable of easy and ready assembly and disassembly, such as bookcases, modular store furniture of various types, receptacles and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a knock-down furniture structure wherein the various components of the respective structures are capable of ready assembly and disassembly which generally precludes the use of any specific fastening elements such as nails, screws, or the like, whereby consequently the various elements of the finished furniture desired are capable of shipment in knock-down condition, after which the same can be readily assembled by persons unskilled in the art and without any specific knowledge of furniture assembling.

One of the more important objects of the present invention is to provide a knock-down furniture structure capable of being assembled under a predetermined method of plan, which when followed, produces a set-up unitary structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide in substantially each completed furniture unit, substantially identical extruded metal angle or channel members, each of the channel members having longitudinally extended right angle sides, said sides being provided at their inner free ends with inturned flanges, which in efi'ect produce a box like structure. These channel members are capable of engagement along the respective joined edges of the furniture components to effectively provide a unitary structure.

closed leg structure or corner member which lends to neat appearance and strength in the finished product.

A further object of the invention is to provide shelf supporting members or brackets which are capable of movement to various positions to support a plurality of shelves at various points, as in a knock-down bookcase, or the like.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a foot portion for the various leg portions of such a cabinet upon which the cabinet is capable of standing. And it is intended that the foot portions likewise be used in certain constructions as a cap portion at the upper ends of the various legs.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated and will become apparent when considered in connection with the accompanying description and drawings, in which like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bookcase or the like embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bookcase of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a box-like structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the structure disclosed in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of one of the angle irons, support and its associated filler and foot portion of the structure seen in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of FIG. 8;

39 i Patented July 20, 1965 ice FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the lower portion of one of the leg elements disclosing the foot member;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing one of the foot members and the manner in which it is attached to the frame member, further showing a furniture slide;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified cap structure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective View of a portion of the upper end of the box-like structure of FIG. 4, showing the modified cap structure of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of one of the corners of the structure of FIG. 13, showing the manner in which the cap is mounted.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the various views, a knock-down bookcase structure is generally indicated at 6 in FIG. 1. The structure disclosed therein is provided with a bottom panel 7, a top panel 8, side panels 9 and 10 and an intermediate shelf 11. The bookcase structure disclosed is provided with a rear wall 12. It will be noted that the bottom panel 7, as seen in FIG. 2, is provided along its opposite side edges with mitered portions 13, said mitered portions are not, in the sense of the term, truly mitered, but each is provided with an offset 14 for a purpose later to be described. Each of the sides 9 and 10 of the bookcase is provided along its upper and lower edges with mitered portions 15, 16, 17 and 18, each of the mitered portions 15, 16, 17 and 13 being provided with cut-out offset portions 19, the purpose thereof to provide a means whereby when the respective mitered sections of the respective panels are moved into engagement or abutting relation, the offset portions 14 of the side edges of bottom panel 7 will be received in the recess 19. Likewise, the top or upper panel 8 is provided along its opposite edges with mitered joints 13 and provided with offsets 14 substantially identical to the offsets 14 described with respect to panel 7, and in a like manner engage within the cut-out portions 19 of the upper edges of the side panels 9 and 10 when the panels are moved into abutting relation. It will be noted that the respective edges of the panel members just described are slightly cut away as indicated at 29, whereby the same are capable of accommodating thickness of the side of the respective connecting channel members so that the latter, later to be described, will lie flush with the respective panel surfaces of the cabinet, The back wall 12 is a single panel and is moved into position along the vertical slots 21 rabbeted along the rear portions of the respective side members 9 and 10, the bottom edge of the panel 12 being received within :a slot 22 rabbeted within the upper surface and at the rear portion of the bottom panel 7. The intermediate shelf 11 is capable of longitudinal sliding fit as along its respective side edges within the horizontally disposed kerfs or rabbets 24 provided along the inner sides of the panels 9 and lit for receiving the same.

It will be apparent that the bottom panel 7 and the side panels 9 and 10 are provided inwardly of their marginal edges and along their outer surfaces with rabbets 25 for accommodating the inturned edges of the respective channel members which are utilized in assembling the structure, the channel members later to be described.

As shown, the various elements of the structure are moved into assembled relation and held in this relation through the means of angle-shaped or channel elements, which are the only means relied upon for supporting the knock-down structures in their assembled relation. Thus, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the channel members which are substantially identical in form and capable of extrusion from a single die, the length of which can readily be varied, are disclosed andcomprise two upper channel members 26 and 27, these channel members being provided with mitered edges 28 for a purpose to be described. The structure also includes two alike lower horizontal channel members 29 which cornprise right angularly related longitudinally extending side members, said side members terminating in right angularly inturned flange portions 36. Eachiof the Vertical four corner portionsof the described structure are provided with vertically disposed channel members 31:, all of which p are substantially identicalto the channel members 26 27 and 29, the only difference being in the respective.

lengths thereof and their end configurations, Thus, the vertical channel members 31 are likewise provided with tive side portions terminate in angularly recessed portions 41, which portions are shaped to accommodate the inturned flange portions 30 of the channel members 31.

The filler 36 has projecting rearwardly from its U-shaped part 37 a web'42, which web engages Within the angle provided by the two sidefacesof the channel member .21,

. The substantially U-shaped portion 37 of the filler 36 is angularly inturned flange portions 39, the upper edgesof the member 31 being mitered as. at 32, said mitered portion engaging the mit'ered portions 38 of the channel members 26 and '27. when moved; to abutting relation. The lower ends of these respective vert1calcornerfsections are provided at their .lower ends with shelf sup-,

porting members34 which will laterbe described in more detail. The intermediate shelf'll is provided along its front edges with notches, whichnotches are for the purpose of-receiving the angularlyinturned flanges 3d-ofthe corner members '51 when the latter are slid vertically into position. a I i In the assembly of the structure disclosed in FIGS 1 and 2, it isfirst only necess'ary to move the sidesr9 and '10 inwardly until the mitered portions of each side mem- 'ber adjacent its lower. edgesare moved into m1tered or abutting engagement with themitered portions 13 of the bottom'panel '7. Next, the back panel lz isfitted downwardly withits side edges'in the slots 21, the bottom edge resting within .thegroove 22. This being accomplished, the top panel 8 is thenmoved into position with itsmitered side edges 13, into engagement with the upper mitered edges '16 and 18 of the respective sides 9 and 10. 1 In this partially assembled relation the'channel members 26 and 27 with their inturned angular flange portions (not shown) are slid longitudinally within the respective recesses provided on its inner surface with a threaded portion 43 for a purpose to bedescribed. The bracket 34 "is provided at its inner end with "a right angularly disposed portion 44; the right angular} portion terminating adjacent its inner edges in notches 45 along its respective sides. These notches are capable of a sliding fit with the inturned flanges moving therein. It will be noted that the filler 39 has been cut oil -a distance equal to the "thickness of .the bracket 34, whereby theb racket 34 can be guided within the flanges 30;andtl 1e notches ifi'to a position of support up'on the upper surface of the filler .in particular, the substantially U-shaped portion 37 of the filler $6 is threaded as indicated at 43. The foot'48 the 36. 'Inorder to lock the bracket 34 to the fillerfid and within the channel member 31-, the bracket is provided with an opening 46 .wl1ich is adapted to receive a screw 47. In assembling the bracket 34--toth e channel 31 and the filler 3- 9, the bracket is, moved into position within the channel 31,-whereupon the screw 47 is passed through opening 46 into engagement with the threaded portion 43 of the filler '36. Thus, when the screw is driven home, thebracket 34 is anchoredin locked position whereupon to support the bottompanel 7.- As shown in FIGS- 10 and ll a furniture foot and furniture slide are disclosed. As seen in these two'figures j issubstan-tially' squarein crosssection so that it will, when whereupon the two side panels and the top panel are now. in relativelyfixe'd relation; Next, the channel members.

'29 with their respective inturned feet portion 30 are slid longitudinally to confine the. bottom panel 7 and the'two side panel members 9 and 10. This having been done, the respective corner channel members 31 are slid vertically upwardly, the inturn'ed feet'portion 3t) engaging the rabbets 25 provided therefor along the outer "surfaces of the panels 9 and 10, whereupon the mitered portionsv 32 lie in abutting engagement with the, mitered portions 28 of the upper channel mer'nb'ers 26 and 27. In such a conditiionthe article of knock down furniture. is in its substantially erected condition. It, of course, will be understood that the shelf 11 will he slid horizontallywithin the slots 24' as heretofore described, andconsequently, the'channel members 31 when moved intoposition, their inturned portions 30 will engage within hold the shelf 11 in proper relation.

The bottom shelf panel supporting structure generally shown in FIG. 2, and more specificallyshown in greater detail in FIGS. 8 and 9; comprises a bracket type support- T 7 ing member 34, which is 'provided adjacent one of its ends with anopening 35,'which opening will accommodate a screw or the like which is capable of passing upthe recess '33 to,

,wardly through the opening into engagement with the lower panel, which panel is supported at its respective corners upon the bracket 34. .Consequenfly, when desired, the shelf can merely be positioned upon the supporting brackets, 34; or, as indicated, it cant be fastened thereto as .by screws passing through the openings 35.

Thevertical channel members; 31 vare readily seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 and comprise right angularly 'relatedside.

members which terminate in inturned flange members 30.

These channel members are provided with a fill'er 3 6,;

said filler comprising a substantiallyU-shaped central portion 37 providing-a spaced vertical opening .38; the

openin 'at its respective sides terminating in right an gul arly disposed side portions 39 and 40. These respecscrewed home, register; with the'respective sides ofthe channel member 31 and filler 36. The foot 43 is provided with a threaded extension 49, which extension is of tubular shapeand is inwardly threaded, as at St The inner threads 59 are adaptedto receive the threaded shank 51 of. a furniture slideSZ.

7 In the assembly of the foot and slide, the footmember 48iis-screwed into the threaded portion 43 of the filler 36 until'it is moved to. lie flush with the bottom surface ofthe channel 31, and the respect ve sides of the foot register with, the sides of the channel 31. This having been done, the furniture slide 52 is ing these figures is to depict the manner in which other piecesof knock-down furniture are capable of assembly and dlsassembly. The structure shownrin FIG. 4, how- 7 ever, differs onlyin minor respects, that is, primarily in shape from the disclosure offFIG. 1, in that the open receptacle disclosed does not-include a top panel or a shelf panel.

7 The constructionshownhereinshows a receptacle, in-

cluding a bottom and four side panels, with the elimination of a top panel. However, the structure disclosed is united in substantially the identical manner as the furniture d sclosed-in'FIG lb Consequently, the numerals used in -FIGS..4, 5,6 and 7 are;substantially identical to the numerals used with respect' to the disclosureof FIG. 1, with the exceptionthat the numerals have been primed where convenient to indicate similar. parts. I I

7 Thus, the structure shown ,in 'FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular, comprises vertical channel members 31' which are substantially'identical to thechanriel members 31 and are provided with'inturned flange members 30'. The container disclosed comprises a bottom panel 53, I two side panels'9' and 10' and front and rear panels '54 and 55. Referring to the bottom panel 53, it will be seen that the respective inner edges thereof are mitered as at 13. The side panels 9' and 10' are, as described with respect to the panels 9 and 10 in FIG. 2, provided with cut away portions 2% and horizontal and vertical rabbets 25. The panel 10 is provided with miters 17 and offset portion 19'. While in FIG. 1 the front edges of the panels 9 and 10 are shown as being square, in the construction here described, the side panels 9 and 10 are provided along their respective edges with mitered portions 56. Likewise, with respect to the front and rear panels 54, they are each cut away as at 20' and are provided with mitered portions 56 along their inside lower edge surfaces and mitered portions 57 along their vertical offset inside edge portions. The rear panel 55 is likewise mitered along its lower inside edge as at 58 and along its vertical inside edges as at 59.

In the assembly of the structure disclosed in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is only necessary to move the respective side and front and rear panels inwardly toward the base or lower panel 53 to a position where the mitered lower portions of the referred to respective panels are in abutting relation with respect to each other. In such position it is only necessary to slide the channel members 29 longitudinally, whereby the flanged portions 39 thereof engage with the rabbeted portions formed on the lower side of the panel 53 and likewise along the lower edge portions of the side panel 9'. Next, the channel member 29' on the opposite lower side of the article is moved into position. In this condition the bottom panel 53 and the two side panels 9' and lit are held in sub- :stantial position. Thereafter, the front panel 54 and wthe rear panel 55 is moved into position whereby the 1mitered portions 56 and 58 of the respective panels en- ;gage or abut the mitered portions 13' of the bottom panel. In this condition the lower channel shaped members 6t) and 61. with their inturned angle portions 61' engage within the rabbets 25 formed adjacent the edges and on the outer face of the lower panel 53 and likewise adjacent the edges on the outer face of the lower edges of the front panel 54. It will be noted that the channel members 26' and 27 can readily be mounted upon the upper portions of the side panels 9' and It) in which position, of course, their mitered corners 28 will overhang respective edge portions of the panels. The article being set up in this position, it is now only necessary to vertically move the corner channel members 31 into position and as will be seen, When these corner channel members are moved into vertical position, the upper mitered edges 32 thereof engage in abutting relation with the mitered portions 28 of the upper channel members 26' and 2.7. In this condition the receptacle is mounted in assembled relation.

It will be understood that the angle members 62 and 63 embracing the upper edges of the front and rear panels 54 and 55 respectively are primarily for purposes of ornamentation, that is, to give the upper edges of these two panels a finished look corresponding to the respective corners of the rest of the structure. The channel members 62 and 53 are likewise provided with angularly inturned portions 64, as best seen in FIG. 6. The int-urned portions 64 are adapted to be received in recesses or grooves formed within the respective panels 54 and 55, it further being noted that the top and rear faces of these two panels have been cut away a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the surfaces of the channel members 62 and 63, whereby the channel mem bers will lie fiush with the surfaces of the panels 54 and 55. The supporting brackets 34' heretofore described with respect to FIG. 1 are identical to the supporting brackets 34 of that figure, and the brackets are supported in the same manner as that described with respect to the structure of FIG. 1 and the brackets 34 can be fastened as by screws passing through the holes 35 to the bottom panel 53, if and when desired. It will be seen that the 6 corner members 31', below the supporting brackets 34 are provided with the filler 36 identical to the filler 36 of FIG. 9.

The modifications disclosed in FIGS. l2, l3 and 14 are directed primarily to a novel finishing cap structure which could readily be substituted in the upper portion of the structure disclosed in FIG. 4. In this modification of cap structure, the receptacle comprises a bottom panel 89, two side panels 81 and 82 and front and rear panels 83 and 84. The upper portions of the respective panels 81, 82, S3 and 84 are provided with channel members 85 which are substantially identical and are provided with inwardly directed flanges 86 which are capable of engagement within grooves preformed within the upper edges of the respective panels, it, of course, being understood that the upper edges of the respective panels have been cut away the thickness of the various walls of the brackets $5, whereby, when the brackets are moved into position, they will lie flush with the outer panel surfaces, primarily for decorative reasons.

The cap member 93, as seen in FIG. 12, is provided with substantially triangular shaped ears 87 extending horizontally from the upper portion of the cap 86. These triangular shaped ears 8''! are capable of being inserted within recesses 88, which recesses have been provided in the upper surfaces of the side members 81 and 83. Each of the respective vertically disposed meeting corners of the respective panels 81, 82, 83 and 84 is provided with mitered portions 14" and 19", substantially identical to the structure disclosed in FIG. 7. The vertical corners of the box-like structure disclosed in FIG. 18 are, of course, enclosed within the like channel members 88 which are likewise provided with inturned flanges 89. The cap member 93 is provided with vertically disposed surfaces 90 which terminate in reduced angular portions 91. These portions 91 are capable of being moved into recesses 92, said recesses having been cut away in the respective edges of the side members 81 and 83 for accommodating the same. It will be understood that each of the corners is finished in substantially an identical manner. Thus, in the assembly of the structure disclosed in FIGS. 18 and 19 the respective walls are moved into position with respect to the bottom panel 80, whereupon the four cap members 93 are moved into position to cover the four corners. Thereafter, the respective channel members 85 and 38 are moved into position wherein the inner ends of the channel members 85 and 88 pass over the cars 87 and the extensions 91 to thereby lock the cap in place and consequently provide an ornamental cap for the respective corners.

In consequence of the above disclosure, it will readily be recognized that I have provided a relatively simple and unique means of providing a plurality of knock-down furniture elements which can be readily assembled and disassembled by persons unskilled in the art, generally requiring no tools and capable of fast assembly and disassembly; further, by the construction disclosed the various units are highly desirable in appearance in view of the fact that all of the exposed edges are covered by channel members, preferably extruded from aluminum or the like, producing a desirable appearance. Further, the structure is extremely strong in that the channel members have incorporated therein various interior filler elements which provide desirable strength characteristics.

It will be readily recognized from a consideration of the above disclosures that I have provided an extremely unique and novel means of producing a plurality of different type knockdown furniture units. Thus, it is contemplated that, from the structures disclosed, that many different type knock-down structures are capable of quick and easy assembly and disassembly and that various modular constructions are possible and capable within the dis closed construction. Further, a novel foot and furniture slide arrangement is disclosed, which foot is capable of not only use as a foot but as a cap member. Again, various type cap members are capable of use as disclosed with respect to the cap member ofFIG. 12, which shows a novel means of inserting an ornamental cap member at the respective corners of a knock-down unit.

From an. overall consideration it's contemplated that 'the invention describes a novel method of assembling various knock-downfurniture structures, the various structures including substantially identical extruded aluminum angle members, the various panels of the respective members having mitered portions and further being rabbeted members to'their various positions.

It will be understood that the constructions disclosed are for exemplary purposes only and that various changes and modifications are capable within the scope of the following claims. V i

I claim: 7 t V v a 1. A knock-down furniture construction comprising in combination abottom panel and side panels, saidb'ottom panel having its side edges cut on a miter, thesaid 'side' panels having their lower and vertical edges cutona miter, the mitered portions of thebottom and sidepanels abutting each other when the furniture is in assembled relation, and a plurality of substantially identical horizontally and vertically disposed angularly shapedchannelme'mbers having angularly inturned flanges, said bottom and side panels having rabbets'formedon their outer faces adjacent the mitered edges, said channel rnembers enclosing the abutted miter portions'of the respective panel members with the inturned flanges of the channel members engaged'within the said rabbets to,supportthe furniture iri erect condition, the said channel membersfiincluding 'a substantially 'U-shaped filler provided with 'angularly dis posed sides to complete a box-like structure, said channel members and U-shapedfiller extending belowthe bottom panel and providing a furniture leg support.

7 2.] The structure'according to claim l, and a panel supporting bracket having its rear end disposed: within the 4. Thefstructureaccording to-claim 3, and a furniture fslide caster having a threaded stud threadedly engaged with the foot stud. V

'5. ,A knock-down furniture construction comprising in I combination, a bottom panel, side panels,and front and rear panels, a plurality of right angle channels having inwardly directed angularly disposed locking flanges, each of the edges of the side, front and rear. panels having mitered edges fitting in abutting relation, said panels having groove for receiving the locking flanges of the channels, said chan- V nels disposed along theverticalabutting mitered edges and similar channels disposed along thetop edges of the recited panels, the "said channels atthe respective upper corners of the furniture leavingian exposed portion, and

a corner'cap member for covering said exposed corner portions, said cap having a pair of horizontally disposed ear members and verticallydisposed reduced angle members, said'ears fitting beneath the endslof the horizontal channel members, and the vertical reduced angle memchannelrnember and resting on'topof the saidfillenfand 7 an attaching member for the bracket extending through the same into locking ,engagement'with the filler.

3. The 1structureaecording to claim 1, said vertical channel and'filler membershavinga foot,; said foot having a stud extending therefrom-engage'able with the filler to lock the foot to said channel'and filler.

{bers fitting beneath the end of the vertical channel, said corner cap having a raised upper surface and raised side surfaces, said surfaces disposedflushwith the outermost surfaces of the channel members. g

V References Cited the Examiner UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 10/16 .Cady 2717 1,798,182 3/ 31' Vance et a1, 312=-263 2,134,251 10/38 Hopwood 21769 X 2,378,267 6/45 'Waller 217-12 2,486,548 11/49 Blazey' 108110 2,577,138 12/51 Lundqvist -2 108110 2,655,882 10/53' Tripp 21769 X 2,867,332 1/59 ,Adams' et al. 108110 3,021,187 2/62 Mitchell 312263 3,065,038 11/62 Pipe 312263 FOREIGN PATENTS 728,987 4/32 France. 930,375 7/55 Germany. I 14,744 1 1/ 86 Great Britain, 292,021 6/28 Great Britain. 407,961 3/34 Great Britain.

FRANK BI SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BOTTOM PANEL AND SIDE PANELS, SAID BOTTOM PANEL HAVING ITS SIDE EDGES CUT ON A MITER, THE SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING THEIR LOWER AND VERTICAL EDGES CUT ON A MITER, THE MITERED PORTIONS OF THE BOTTOM AND SIDE PANELS ABUTTING EACH OTHER WHEN THE FURNITURE IS IN ASSEMBLED RELATION, AND A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED ANGULARLY SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING ANGULARLY INTURNED FLANGES, SAID BOTTOM AND SIDE PANELS HAVING RABBETS FORMED ON THEIR OUTER FACES ADJACENT THE MITERED EDGES, SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS ENCLOSING THE 